]]>One of Current Time’s most popular programs, Unknown Russia, has seen spectacular growth thanks to a new digital strategy that repurposes the content for social media users.

The show, an intimate portrait of ordinary Russians living on the margins of mainstream society, became the first Current Time TV program to break the half-million views barrier on YouTube with a story about life in Berezniki, a city devoured by massive sinkholes caused by Soviet-era mining tunnels.

Altogether, Unknown Russia and its various social-media derivatives have generated more than 18 million views. In its TV version, the program has been snapped up by 10 broadcast partners in Russia, Moldova, Spain, Israel, and Central Asia, making it one of Current Time’s most in-demand shows.

]]>Changing patterns of extremism and terrorism in Pakistanhttps://www.bbg.gov/2018/02/13/changing-patterns-extremism-terrorism-pakistan/
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 07:30:59 +0000https://www.bbg.gov/?p=40578RFE/RL and the Asia Program at the Wilson Center invite you to a discussion of current developments and perceptions in Pakistan related to extremism and terrorism.

]]>Current tensions between the United States and Pakistan underscore the problems posed by the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network, groups that Washington blames for orchestrating attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan from safe havens in Pakistan. However, the story of extremism and terrorism in Pakistan extends well beyond these two groups, and it continues to evolve—even as Pakistan has experienced major reductions in terrorist violence in recent years. This event, which is co-hosted with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, will highlight current developments and perceptions in Pakistan related to extremism and terrorism; examine the role of state and society in radicalization and extremism; discuss possible future trajectories of extremism and terrorism in Pakistan; and consider what this all means for U.S. policy.

]]>The President’s FY 2019 Budget Request released todayhttps://www.bbg.gov/2018/02/12/presidents-fy-2019-budget-request-released-today/
Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:24:40 +0000https://www.bbg.gov/?p=40612“Today’s fast-changing media environment requires that we continually improve our operations in order to make the most of our journalistic impact,” said Lansing. “As stewards of the American taxpayers’ dollars, we are committed to improving our operations in order to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and accountability.”

The Broadcasting Board of Governors’ (BBG) portion of the President’s FY 2019 Budget Request, released today, continues to expand global freedom of information and expression and communicate America’s democratic experience and values around the world.

“In a world awash with media, and saturated in often false narratives and disinformation, our work is more important than ever,” said BBG CEO and Director John F. Lansing. “Audiences around the world are hungry for the exceptional news and information that we offer, and we will continue to meet that demand.”

The $661.1 million in the President’s FY 2019 Budget Request represents strategic investments that build on the BBG’s successful efforts in confronting state-sponsored disinformation, accelerating the shift to digital and interactive platforms, and strengthening accountability. The President’s FY 2019 Budget Request also includes program and operation reductions at the agency’s Offices of Technology, Services, and Innovation and Cuba Broadcasting, and at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, one of the BBG-sponsored networks.

Although the President’s FY19 funding request represents a $24 million reduction from the FY 2018 Budget Request, it prioritizes funding for the U.S. National Security Strategy objectives of “Preserving Peace through Strength” and “Advancing American Influence” by expanding freedom of information and expression and communicating America’s democratic experience and values. This includes enhancing reporting on violent extremism, premiering additional fact-based alternatives to Russian propaganda, and increasing content and distribution options to China and Iran.

Today, the BBG is uniquely positioned – through its enduring mission, the vital support of our excellent Board of Governors, revitalized leadership, greatly improved internal coordination and collaboration, and expanded global reach on all media platforms – to combat disinformation and extremism and to communicate America’s story and values to the world.

“Today’s fast-changing media environment requires that we continually improve our operations in order to make the most of our journalistic impact,” said Lansing. “As stewards of the American taxpayers’ dollars, we are committed to improving our operations in order to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and accountability.”

]]>At one-year mark, Current Time leads with innovation and growthhttps://www.bbg.gov/2018/02/07/one-year-mark-current-time-leads-innovation-growth/
Wed, 07 Feb 2018 19:38:35 +0000https://www.bbg.gov/?p=40569Current Time is marking steady growth and expanding demand since its formal launch one year ago as a 24/7 Russian-language alternative to Kremlin-controlled media.

]]>Current Time is marking steady growth and expanding demand since its formal launch one year ago as a 24/7 Russian-language alternative to Kremlin-controlled media.

Created in 2014 to provide reliable news to Russian-speaking audiences in the former Soviet space, Current Time has exploded from a single 30-minute program to a round-the-clock network, bringing dynamic reporting and fresh feature coverage to leading digital platforms, 77 distribution networks, and 47 affiliate stations in Russia and nearly 30 other countries, including the Baltics, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Central Asia.

Prominent Russian documentary filmmaker Vitaly Mansky has called Current Time “the only television in the world that tells [Russians], in Russian, the truth about the current state of affairs. And it is television that is the most effective way of gaining their trust.”

On digital platforms, Current Time’s innovative social media videos, designed for younger audiences and particularly successful inside Russia, were viewed 400 million times in 2017. The channel’s subscriber base on Facebook and Russian-language social media sites like VKontakte tripled during the year, and the channel’s YouTube page grew from 35,000 subscribers to 220,000. Current Time has nearly 1 million subscribers across all social media.

While Current Time is, under U.S. law, editorially independent of any government, it was designated a “foreign agent” by Russia in December, together with VOA and RFE/RL’s other units inside the country, including its Russian Service and regional programs covering the North Caucasus, the Volga region, and Siberia.

In addition to social media, Current Time can be watched through its website at currenttime.tv, and worldwide on OTT outlets such as MeGoGo and Plex TV.

About RFE/RL

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is a private, independent international news organization whose programs — radio, Internet, television, and mobile — reach influential audiences in 23 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through the BBG.

]]>Audiences around the world turn to the BBG for the State of the Unionhttps://www.bbg.gov/2018/02/01/audiences-around-world-turn-bbg-state-union/
Fri, 02 Feb 2018 00:35:32 +0000https://www.bbg.gov/?p=40559Audiences around the world, including in some of the most media-repressed countries, were able to watch President Trump’s first State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday evening, thanks to the networks of the BBG. The extensive coverage, which included the Democrat response by Representative Joe Kennedy, was distributed to more than 100 countries.

]]>Audiences around the world, including in some of the most media-repressed countries, were able to watch President Trump’s first State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday evening, thanks to the networks of the BBG. The extensive coverage, which included the Democrat response by Representative Joe Kennedy, was distributed to more than 100 countries.

For many in those regions, the BBG networks served as the only source of accurate and unbiased coverage of the president’s address.

The speech, as well as the Democratic response, was carried live with simultaneous translation in English and nine other languages: Arabic, Persian, Mandarin, Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian, French, Spanish, and Creole. Several other language services translated key quotes and ran live blogs on their Facebook pages and websites.

In-depth Coverage of Speech and Analysis
Each of the networks provided a wide variety of commentary on and reaction to the speech, including from leaders in their respective diaspora communities in the United States.

VOA Russian, Mandarin and Persian services, and MBN’s Alhurra TV provided more than two hours of coverage and commentary in their own special programs.

Russia

For Russian speakers, Current Time, the 24 hour Russian language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, aired the speech and response, analysis and additional coverage by VOA’s Russian Service, on its digital TV network, Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. More than 60,000 viewers watched the program on Facebook alone, generating more than 5,600 reactions, comments and shares. There were more than 327,000 impressions to VOA Russian’s SOTU-related content on Twitter. RFE/RL’s Radio Svoboda also streamed Current Time’s YouTube feed of SOTU, where it has been viewed 30,000 times and a wide variety of reactions from viewers.
For Persian speakers, VOA’s Persian Service and RFE/RL’s Radio Farda provided comprehensive coverage and analysis. Persian’s 2.5-hour live TV special on the address was broadcast live on TV and all digital platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. In addition, the service held exclusive interviews with Senator David Perdue (R-GA) and David Levinson, son of Bob Levinson who disappeared without a trace in Iran 11 years ago.

Iran

RFE/RL’s Radio Farda carried VOA Persian’s live feed of the speech and provided live-blogged coverage, as well as regular reporting that was shared by the U.S. State Department on its Persian Facebook. Since the speech, nearly 200 comments have been published on its webpage, with many expressing thanks to President Trump for supporting Iranian protesters, and some writing that the U.S. has double standards.

Middle East and Central Asia

Live coverage of the address and response with simultaneous Arabic translation was provided to millions in the Middle East and North Africa by MBN’s Alhurra Television and Radio Sawa.

Leading up to the address, Alhurra presented live updates from its correspondents in DC and Virginia and produced several in-depth reports related to the speech. The coverage discussed Americans’ expectations of the Trump administration moving forward and focused on the Middle East peace process, the economy and the stock market.

Alhurra’s live coverage started at 8:30 p.m. EST with a preview of the address and live reports from its correspondents at the White House and Congress.Following the speech and the Democratic response, Alhurra and Radio Sawa interviewed experts and analysts, as well as members of Congress.

The following day Alhurra hosted a special episode of its flagship political program Free Hour focusing on the address and the U.S. foreign policy with analysts from the U.S. and the region. Special reports, interviews with members of Congress and excerpts of the speech, and reaction from analysts, experts and citizens were played during newscasts and other programs throughout the day.

In addition to its extensive television coverage, Alhurra and Radio Sawa published live blogs, numerous videos, reports and stories on their websites and social media (including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) about the history of the speech, facts and figures, guests, Trump’s vision on immigration, healthcare and economy.

For Dari and Pashto speakers, VOA’s Afghan Service live streamed the speech and response live on it websites and Facebook pages. Dari and Pashto radio also provided live coverage with simultaneous translation of speech excerpts.

Following the speech, the service provided congressional and Afghan government reaction, as well as live reports to its affiliates, including Azadi, TOLO, RTA and Shamshad. RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan and Radio Mashaal also provided coverage and excerpts of the speech, and they generated discussion and debate on their social platforms. Two Mashaal stories and videos were viewed by more than 8,000 people.

Spanish

The Office of Cuba Broadcasting and the VOA Spanish Service worked closely to share resources and provide comprehensive coverage to Cuba and throughout Latin America of the address. VOA Spanish provided simultaneous translation via satellite for television and radio affiliates of the President’s speech, as well as the Democratic Spanish response by Virginia state delegate Elizabeth Guzman, of Peruvian descent. Television, radio and online affiliates in 17 Latin American countries. Radio and Television Marti aired a special program on the historical significance of past speeches, then carried VOA’s broadcast of the speech in Spanish, as well as the Spanish-language Democratic response, with Marti journalists and political analsts representing Republican and Democratic points of view. OCB provided live streaming on martinoticias.com and on Marti’s Facebook Live account.

Leveraging partnerships for extended reach
VOA’s Eurasia division provided live television reports for more than 40 television affiliates, including 22 for VOA Serbian. VOA Spanish prepared four radio reports and five television reports for affiliates, focusing primarily on immigration and foreign policy. VOA Indonesian conducted 15 live hits with eight national TV stations, and 20 live reports for seven major radio networks. VOA Turkish had reporters at the Russell building to do standups for affiliates, including Haberturk, Halk TV and Bloomberg TV.

]]>On Friday, January 26, BBG signed a content sharing Memorandum of Understanding with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Greece’s national wire service.

The agreement provides for content sharing across digital platforms and gives AMNA a direct line to the Voice of America newsroom and access to BBG’s innovative digital library of video, radio, and internet content.

The MOU comes in the context of the United States’ role as honored country in Greece’s 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair in September, Greece’s most important annual political and economic event. Last October, President Trump formally accepted the role from Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and noted that it would be a premier opportunity to showcase American technology, enterprise and innovation on the world stage.

Present at the signing ceremony were Greece’s Minister of Digital Policy Nikos Pappas and U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt.

In his remarks welcoming the agreement, Ambassador Pyatt said, “Today’s ceremony is part of the important activities we have planned for the Thessaloniki International Fair this year. We expect this MOU to ensure that our message for TIF on American innovation and technology as well as Greece’s message of economic recovery and geostrategic importance will get even wider circulation.”

]]>RFE/RL fears retaliation against journalists in Pakistanhttps://www.bbg.gov/2018/01/26/rferl-fears-retaliation-journalists-pakistan/
Fri, 26 Jan 2018 18:21:12 +0000https://www.bbg.gov/?p=40506Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) expressed concern on Friday that members of Radio Mashaal are facing pressure by authorities following the closure of the Pashto-language service’s Islamabad office on ISI orders last week.

]]>Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) expressed concern on Friday that members of Radio Mashaal are facing pressure by authorities following the closure of the Pashto-language service’s Islamabad office on ISI orders last week.

RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said there were indications that authorities were seeking to compel staffers to make forced statements against the news organization.

On January 19, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry ordered the closure of the bureau following accusations by ISI that Mashaal’s programs are “against the interest of Pakistan” and “in line with [a] hostile intelligence agency’s agenda.”

In a statement issued that day, Kent deplored the allegations, saying “Radio Mashaal serves no intelligence agency or government.” He demanded that the safety of Mashaal journalists “be ensured, and that they be permitted to resume their work without fear or delay.”

Radio Mashaal was created in 2010 with a grant by the U.S. Congress, as an alternative news source to extremist media in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the border with Afghanistan. While Mashaal continues to use cross-border AM and shortwave radio to reach its Pashto-speaking audience, it also counts more than 1.6 million Facebook fans, and registered 81 million video views on Facebook and 10 million views on YouTube in 2017.

The closure comes amid increasing tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan.

About RFE/RL

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is a private, independent international news organization whose programs — radio, Internet, television, and mobile — reach influential audiences in 23 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through the BBG.

]]>Media rights groups, Pakistani political leaders decry Radio Mashaal closurehttps://www.bbg.gov/2018/01/25/media-rights-groups-pakistani-political-leaders-decry-radio-mashaal-closure/
Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:31:11 +0000https://www.bbg.gov/?p=40483Media rights organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have been joined by representatives of a broad spectrum of Pakistani political parties in protesting a January 19 decision by Pakistan’s Interior Ministry to close the Islamabad bureau of Radio Mashaal, RFE/RL’s Pashto language service to Pakistan. The closure order followed accusations by the country’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency that its programs are “against the interest of Pakistan” and “in line with [a] hostile intelligence agency’s agenda.”

]]>Media rights organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have been joined by representatives of a broad spectrum of Pakistani political parties in protesting a January 19 decision by Pakistan’s Interior Ministry to close the Islamabad bureau of Radio Mashaal, RFE/RL’s Pashto language service to Pakistan. The closure order followed accusations by the country’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency that its programs are “against the interest of Pakistan” and “in line with [a] hostile intelligence agency’s agenda.”

Radio Mashaal was created in 2010 with a grant by the U.S. Congress, to combat extremism in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the border with Afghanistan. While Mashaal continues to use cross-border AM and shortwave radio to reach its Pashto-speaking audience, it also counts more than 1.6 million Facebook fans, and registered 81 million video views on Facebook and 10 million views on YouTube in 2017.

CPJ Asia Program Director Steven Butler called the closure of Radio Mashaal’s Islamabad bureau “a draconian move by Pakistani authorities and a direct threat to press freedom in the country.” Noted RSF Asia Pacific Desk head Daniel Bastard, “It is not the job of the intelligence services to dictate the editorial line of a radio station that provides Pashto speakers with an alternative viewpoint.”

In comments made to Radio Mashaal, politicians from major Pakistani political parties active in the tribal areas condemned the closure of the Islamabad bureau. They emphasized that Radio Mashaal is a critical resource in the fight against terrorist networks and militancy in Pakistan, and noted Mashaal’s unique reporting on local problems and efforts to raise political and civic awareness in a region otherwise dominated by extremist propaganda:

Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao — Member of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Chairman of the Qaumi Watan Party, former Interior Minister of Pakistan

“Radio Mashaal has its policy and it is airing reports/programs about the situation in Pashtun areas. So I believe banning Mashaal is not the right [approach]. And we believe that the ban must be immediately waived.”

“The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party strongly condemns the ban of Radio Mashaal by the Interior Ministry. Hundreds of thousands of Pashtuns listen to Radio Mashaal, which provides information to the people. We know very well that mainstream Pakistani media, both private and official, do not air Pashto programs for the Pashto-speaking regions, including the tribal areas. Radio Mashaal is highlighting problems of those people, conduct interviews with them. The people are very happy with Mashaal programs.”

Akhunzada Chattan — former Member of Pakistan’s National Assembly, senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party:

“There is no denying the fact that whatever political awareness that we see in the tribal areas, particularly about the FCR [British-era Frontier Crimes Regulation] I can say that more than 50 per cent credit goes to Radio Mashaal. They [Radio Mashaal] performed the best service. And this is the reason that it was banned because it [Radio Mashaal] is creating political awareness among the tribal people”

Afrasiab Khattak — former Pakistani Senator, senior leader of the Awami National Party:

“I believe Radio [Mashaal] did not do anything bad against the interests of the country. Rather [the radio] highlighted the problems of the backward areas, and that too, through the words of the local population. And then they let other people know about those problems. So this is a service [to the community].

“Closing the radio, television or newspaper is not the right step. If there is a complaint against someone, they must be informed and if proved, only then can be punished. We condemn the one-sided move by providing no opportunity to the other party to present its clarification. We want the government of Pakistan to send a notice to the responsible authorities of Radio Mashaal. Talk to them and act only when they [the government] proved the allegation against them.”

Mufti Ainuddin — senior leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party:

“We believe that Mashaal Radio has truly highlighted many key issues and problems of Pashtuns and we are happy with that. We praise Mashaal for that. Banning media outlets is not the right step. And imposing a ban on media without reasons is also not a commendable step.”

RFE/RL’s dedicated reporters are Pakistani citizens providing unbiased and accurate local reporting. They should be permitted to do their jobs informing the Pakistan citizenry, and they should be guaranteed safety while they do it.

Pakistan is a difficult and dangerous place for journalists, and the brave men and women at Radio Mashaal risk their lives and livelihoods to uncover and report the truth. We believe that in Pakistan, as in the more than 100 other countries in which we operate, people should have unfettered access to news and information that affects their lives.

I stand with RFE/RL President Tom Kent and the dedicated journalists of Radio Mashaal, and I call for the immediate reopening of its offices in Islamabad. The people of Pakistan deserve access to fact-based reporting.

]]>BBG Chairman Kenneth Weinstein wrote a Letter to the Editor of The Wall Street Journal in response to an editorial published by the paper on access to information in Iran.

“Regarding your editorial “Iran’s Internet Imperative” (Jan. 18): As board chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), I can proudly say that the agency is a recognized global pioneer in creating secure platforms for those suffering under repressive regimes around the world. The Open Technology Fund, a competitive internet freedom tech-centric, private-sector program managed by Radio Free Asia (one of the networks overseen by the BBG), has nurtured the development of research and field-driven interventions that sustain secure anticensorship and communication technologies advancing hundreds of millions of citizens’…” Read More